Designing An Effective Exercise Plan To Lose Weight

Exercise is a critical component of any weight loss plan. Cutting back on calories and watching what you eat is only one part of the equation. Your body also need physical exercise if you truly want to reach your health and fitness goals.

While the mere act of exercising helps with weight loss by burning calories, it also has longer lasting results. When you exercise, the amount of lean muscle in your body increases. This, in turn, causes an increase in your metabolic rate, meaning that your body burns more calories all of the time. This makes it easier to lose weight and to keep it off.

Unfortunately, many people start out strong with their exercise programs, only to wind up giving up within a few short months. This is usually due to choosing the wrong type of exercise or setting unrealistic goals. Try using the following tips to design an effective exercise plan to lose weight:

1. Choose an activity that you enjoy. The only way that exercising will help you reach your weight loss goals is if you stick with it long enough to see results. The best way to ensure that you don’t give up too soon is to base your workout program around activities that you enjoy. For instance, if you love the outdoors, consider designing a workout plan that centers around hiking or riding your bike. Alternatively, if you would rather work out indoors, think about activities such as dancing, swimming or boxing. The more fun and interesting your workouts are, the more likely you are to stick with them.

2. Set a schedule. Come up with a schedule for when you plan to exercise. Choose a time when you are unlikely to be interrupted. For instance, many people find that working out first thing in the morning is best since they don’t have to worry about interruptions from family members or coworkers. Write the time into your daily planner just like you would with any other important event. Having a dedicated time in your schedule for exercise makes it less likely that you will skip your workouts.

3. Track your progress. One common reason that people stop working out is because they don’t feel like they are making any progress. That is why it is so important to track your results. Before you begin your new exercise program, take measurements of your body including your arms, chest, waist, hips, and thighs. Write these numbers down and keep them in a safe place. Repeat the measurements after a month or two of working out. Even if you haven’t seen a dramatic drop in the numbers on the scale, chances are you will have lost a lot of inches from all over your body.

When it comes to designing an effective exercise plan to lose weight, the hardest part is figuring out how to keep yourself motivated. By choosing activities that you enjoy, setting a regular workout schedule and tracking your progress, you should be able to stay on track with your workouts long enough to see results.